Regular electricity shutdowns have become a common part of everyday life in Ukraine. However, one of the most problematic consequences of shutdowns is the loss of stable mobile communications, which complicates daily life and becomes a serious challenge during long periods without electricity.
From the end of 2022, Ukrainian mobile operators have been actively preparing for electricity shutdowns, buying generators and backup batteries massively. Oleksandr Komarov, President of Kyivstar, noted that the company has purchased new Lithium batteries for base stations, which provide up to 7 hours of battery life and recharge faster. The number of diesel generators was also increased.
Despite the costs of these measures, subscribers do not feel significant improvement. Michael, our interlocutor, notes that during last year's winter blackberries, his connection was better, and now he is thinking about the acquisition of an additional seven.
Oleksandr Glushchenko, an expert on telecommunications, explains that mobile networks were not designed for long -term power outages. Base stations cannot work long without power, and even new batteries can not always provide enough energy. Glushchenko notes that during the disconnections of the mobile operators' network are transformed into an "island", where there is an opportunity to provide communication service, and "dark holes" where the communication is simply absent.
President Volodymyr Zelensky instructed the Minister of Digital Transformation to Mikhail Fedorov to check the readiness of mobile operators for possible blackouts. The National Telecommunications Network Operational and Technical Center ordered the operators to ensure the availability of services within ten hours after light shutdown. However, according to Glushchenko, operators are not capable of fulfilling this requirement.
In winter, when light shutdown can reach up to 20 hours a day, fixed -communication operators should come to the help of mobile networks. Glushchenko advises subscribers of fixed communication operators to find out in the provider by what technology they are connected, and to switch to XPON technology, which provides the Internet for up to 72 hours after switching off light.
The expert also recommends reserving power supply for his own Wi-Fi router or modem with the help of spray or uninterrupted power sources. For mobile phones, you should have several service providers using E-SIM or 2 SIM cards at the same time.
If there is no possibility of connecting an additional operator of a fixed communication operator and the speed of access of the mobile network is not enough, it is worth considering the option with the satellite Internet Starlink, although this option is quite expensive.
